The Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building Projects: 39 Essentials to Increase the Bounty and Beauty of Your Garden [Paperback]

Editors of Storey Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2010

Make your garden more productive, your garden chores easier, and your outdoor spaces more enjoyable!

With a little time and a few tools, you can create handsome, handcrafted items for your garden at a fraction of the cost of buying them in stores. The Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building Projects offers 39 simple projects, from cold frames to compost bins, planters to picnic tables, trellises to tool storage. Each project was selected by Storey's editors to be functional, attractive, and easy to complete. For each one, you'll find step-by-step instructions, detailed illustrations, complete materials and lumber lists, and a four-color photo of the finished product. Many of the projects can be done by beginners, and most can be completed in a few hours.

Whether you need support for your beans and peas or a comfortable chair to relax in when the work is done, these projects are just what you're looking for.

 

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Build a Productive Garden

39 building projects transform your modest vegetable garden into a model of efficiency and comfort. For a fraction of the cost of buying retail, you can build handsome, handcrafted items that will encourage your vegetables to thrive, extend your growing season, or simply offer a place to relax among your plants. Each building project is functional, attractive, and easy to complete with basic tools.

New to woodworking? Many of these projects are ideal for beginners, and most can be completed in a matter of hours or during a single weekend. Whether you are looking for support to trellis your peas and beans or a garden swing to relax in, these projects are just what your garden needs.

About the Author

Storey Publishing, located in North Adams, Massachusetts, is one of the most respected and trusted publishers in the categories of country living, crafts, pets, and animals. Its publications include "The Vegetable Gardener's Bible", "Housekeeping on a Small Acreage", "The One-Minute Organizer", and much more.
 

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (April 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603425268
• ISBN-13: 978-1603425261
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > Garden Furnishings

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Video Review March 25, 2010

By BeachBrights TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Length: 2:42 Mins

Great projects that go hand-in-hand with gardening!

Enjoy!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building Projects May 7, 2010

By Diane Hoffmaster

Format:Paperback

The great thing about this book is that it starts out with the basics! The first chapter deals with general building tips, types of lumber, and which tools you should have on hand to complete these projects. There are 39 projects ranging from simple plant supports, dirt sifters, and raised beds to the more complicated picnic tables, cold frames, compost bins, and wooden swings. Each project includes a detailed list of materials, necessary tools, and diagrams. The pictures are key for me...everything is easier when you can see it on paper in front of you before you start! The two projects I thought were the most unique were the outdoor storage bin (kindof like an outdoor root cellar) and the 'handy house'. The handy house is a great idea...it is essentially a storage area for your tools that looks like a bird house up on a pole. How great to not have to run back to the house every time I forget my scissors!

I definitely think some power tools would come in handy for these projects. I can't imagine using a hand saw to cut the lumber. Although, as the authors point out, many home improvement stores will cut the lumber to your specifications for a small fee. You will still be saving money compaired to buying these projects premade. I saw a raised bed planter at the garden store the other day that was $369! There are plans in the book for the exact same thing and I KNOW the lumber wouldnt cost THAT much!

Overall, I think this is a great book! It is well organized, simple to understand, and includes a wide variety of projects.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good ideas! April 29, 2011

By Loves Amazon

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are some really great and practical ideas in this book. I especially like it because of the compost and compost related building ideas (ie compost bin, screen, etc). Everything seems very well laid out and the instructions are easy to follow, including exact supply lists. We haven't begun building anything from this book yet (too cold outside still), but I'm looking forward to using this book to inspire and guide us!